The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ordered electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to refund ₦20.33 billion to consumers who paid for their own electricity meters, resolving a long-standing backlog under a key sector financing scheme.
The binding directive, contained in Order No. NERC/2026/025 signed on February 27, 2026, amends a previous 2023 order. It mandates DisCos to fully disburse the outstanding sum to affected customers over a 12-month period starting March 1, 2026. The commission stated that as of December 31, 2025, DisCos had failed to reimburse customers for meters procured under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework, creating the accumulated debt.
The MAP scheme was designed to allow customers to purchase meters, with the cost subsequently refunded by their DisCo through credits on energy bills. However, NERC noted that reimbursement had been consistently slow, undermining consumer trust and sector credibility. The new order aims to prevent further delays and ensure transparent, automated processing.
Key provisions of the order include automating all reimbursements. For prepaid meter customers, DisCos must automatically generate monthly energy tokens equivalent to the reimbursement value. For postpaid customers, the credit must appear as a distinct line item on monthly bills, separate from any outstanding legacy debts. The commission explicitly prohibits offsetting meter reimbursement credits against previous customer arrears.
To ensure compliance, NERC has mandated monthly reporting. All DisCos must file detailed reports with the commission on the total value of reimbursements issued. They must also establish dedicated email channels for customer complaints related to unmet reimbursements, with complaint resolution status included in monthly reports.
The accelerated 12-month recovery plan means prepaid customers will receive two reimbursement tokens per month, and postpaid customers will see two separate credit line items on their bills, covering the arrears from 2025.
This regulatory intervention underscores NERC’s effort to enforce contractual obligations within the electricity supply industry and protect consumer investments in metering infrastructure. Successful implementation is critical for improving customer confidence and ensuring the sustainable operation of the MAP framework, which remains vital for closing the nationwide metering gap.
